Little: Re-opening starts May 1

Gov. Brad Little announced during a press conference today that Idaho will be re-opening in stages starting May 1.

Churches will be among the first to re-open, the governor said.

Little has appointed a group of business leaders to help guide the state back toward prosperity. It’s called The Economic Rebound Advisory Committee.

Little has planned a four-phase opening process, with criteria at each of the four stages. Reopening decisions will be made two weeks at a time in order to ensure that Idaho doesn’t reopen too quickly and have a spike in COVID-19 cases.

At all stages of the plan, individuals should continue to engage in physical distancing of at least six feet, wear face coverings in public places, stay home if sick, practice good hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes and disinfect surfaces and objects regularly. Employers should continue to maintain six-feet physical distancing for employees and patrons, provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene, ensure frequent disinfection of the business and provide services while limiting close interactions with patrons.

There will be a re-evaluation every two weeks to determine the feasibility to advance from one stage to the next. All criteria must be met in order to move to the next stage. Dates are estimated targets.

Stage 1, May 1 - May 15:

All vulnerable Idahoans should continue to self-quarantine. Public and private gatherings should be avoided. Nonessential travel should be minimized. Employers should continue to encourage telework whenever possible.

Visits to senior living facilities are prohibited. Bars and nightclubs remain closed. Restaurants and dining rooms remain closed. Places of worship can open if they adhere to strict physical distancing, sanitation protocol and any CDC guidance.

Indoor gyms and recreation facilities remain closed. Hair salons remain closed. Large venues, such as movie theaters, are closed. Daycares and organized youth activities and camps can reopen.

Stage 2, May 16 - May 29:

All vulnerable Idahoans should continue to self-quarantine and members of households with vulnerable residents should take precautions. Gatherings of fewer than 10 people, where appropriate physical distancing and precautionary measures are observed, can occur. Nonessential travel should be minimized.

Employers should continue to encourage telework.

Indoor gyms and hair salons can reopen once they have met the governor's guidelines and protocols. Bars and nightclubs remain closed, as do large venues. Visits to senior living facilities are prohibited.

Schools and restaurants are asked to comply with further guidance from the health district. Schools have been sent cleaning and disinfecting guidelines and restaurants have guidance, protocols, and a checklist that can be found on PHD’s COVID-19 webpage.

Stage 3, May 30 - June 12:

Vulnerable Idahoans can resume public interactions but should practice social distancing. Gatherings of 10-50 people, where appropriate physical distancing and precautionary measures are observed, can occur. Nonessential travel can resume to locations that allow it and do not have ongoing transmission.

Employers should continue to encourage telework.

Visits to senior living facilities remain prohibited. Bars and nightclubs remain closed, as well as large venues like movie theaters and sporting venues.

Stage 4, June 13 - June 26:

Vulnerable Idahoans can resume public interactions but should practice social distancing. Gatherings of more than 50 people, where appropriate physical distancing and precautionary measures are observed, can occur. Nonessential travel continues.

Employers can resume unrestricted staffing of worksites, but continue to practice physical distancing, personal protections and sanitations for protection of workers. Special accommodations should be made for employees who are considered vulnerable.

Visits to senior living facilities can resume. Bars and nightclubs may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy. Large venues can operate under limited physical distancing protocols.

For more details on Gov. Little’s plan to reopen Idaho, visit www.reboundidaho.gov.